Guest posts are always welcome. Please send submissions for consideration to middletowninsider@gmail.com - - - - - We are now supported by advertisers! - - - - - There are NO popup ads. - - - - - Please turn off you ad blocker for this site and check out the ads that catch your interest. Clicking on the wheel opens a new window.

Friday, April 27, 2018

(Middletown, CT)
Chairman Rick Morin of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce has
announced the 2018 recipients of the chamber’s Distinguished Citizen
Award.

Each
year, the chamber presents this award to individuals who serve as an
inspiration to others, and are recognized by the Middlesex community as
unselfishly giving his or her time and talent to produce a lasting
benefit to the area. The Distinguished Citizen Committee chose the
recipients from a list of over 230 nominees.

The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce proudly announces that the 2018 recipients of the Distinguished Citizen Award are:

Steve Gorss

Carter Gowrie

Richard & Joan Tomc

Chamber
President Larry McHugh noted, “Once again, our Distinguished Citizen
Committee has chosen four outstanding individuals. They are committed to
making Middlesex County a better place to work and live, and we are
extremely proud of all of them.”

The
2018 Distinguished Citizen Award recipients will be honored at the
Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce 2018 Annual Awards Dinner to be
held on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel in Cromwell.

About the Recipients:

Steve Gorss

Steven
J. Gorss is the owner of Incredible CVS, a real estate investing firm
in West Hartford, Connecticut. He is the former owner and operator of
the Super 8 Motel in Cromwell. Steven is a graduate of Utica College of
Syracuse University and holds an MBA from the New York Institute of
Technology. A Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce member since 1989,
Steven serves on the board of the directors and the executive committee.
He is a past chairman of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, past
chairman of its Strategic Planning Committee, and past chairman of the
Cromwell division. He also served on Support the Troops and Honor the
Veterans Committee, Legislative Committee and Nominating Committees.

Recognizing
the Cromwell/ Middletown area was at the center of New England, Steve
led a group with the three other hotels in Cromwell in a marketing
effort titled "The Crossroads of New England". This highly successful
program brought thousands of convention participants and dollars to the
area. He is the founder and president of the North Meadows Merchants
Association and a past chairman of the Connecticut River Valley Tourism
District, as well as a member of the Connecticut Lodging Association,
the National Eagle Scout Association, the Metro Hartford Chamber of
Commerce, the Greater Hartford Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the
Connecticut Business and Industry Association. Steve is a former member
of the Governor's Small Business Advisory Council.

Steven
is a corporator for Liberty Bank, a member of the Middlesex United
Way's leadership circle, the Community Foundation of Middlesex County's
President's Society and a St. Parish Claver Church parish council
member, a National Eagle Scout Association Member and Connecticut River
Boy Scouts of America member. In addition, Steven served as an assistant
scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America for 18 years and has led his
troop on treks to numerous interesting and scenic locations. Steven has
received several awards and recognitions throughout the years including
three from Super 8 Motels corporate including the Pride of Super 8
award, the Golden Pineapple Award and the Community Service Award. He
received the Sam Walton Businessman of the Year award by the Walmart
Corporation for his whole in bringing Walmart to Cromwell. He also
received the Chairman's recognition friends of Scouting Award, Open
Hearth Annual Award and 4000 Footer Award from the Appalachian Mountain
Club.

Steven
has contributed to dozens of charities throughout the years. He lives
in West Hartford with his wife of 36 years, Patricia. He is the father
of four adult children Stephanie Gorss, US Army Captain Jerry Gorss, US
Air Force Captain John Gorss, and James Gorss. He is the proud
grandfather of Patrick Gorss.

Carter Gowrie

S.
Carter Gowrie is the founder and CEO of Gowrie Group. Gowrie Group
began in 1974 as a boutique boat & yacht insurance specialty
brokerage. Over time, the company expanded into also providing insurance
solutions for marinas, boat dealers, yacht clubs and other recreational
marine entities. From there, Gowrie’s portfolio of insurance offerings
expanded to include general commercial, home & auto, and equine
insurance, as well as employee benefits solutions and safety services.
Carter is also the architect of the highly successful “Burgee Program,”
Gowrie’s specialty insurance program for sailing organizations and yacht
clubs which is endorsed by US Sailing. Gowrie Group now provides expert
advice, specialized service and customized insurance solutions to more
than 14,000 clients nationwide. Gowrie Group is a Top CT Workplace for
the seventh year running, and has more than 175 employees with primary
offices in Westbrook CT, Darien CT, Newport RI, Marshfield MA and
Annapolis MD.

A
lifelong sailor, Carter has long been active in the marine and sailing
community. He served on the board of the Essex Yacht Club, the Eastern
Connecticut Sailing Association, and the Interclub Dinghy Class
Association. He is past president of the J/35 Class Association and past
commodore of the Frostbite Yacht Club. He has competed and earned
success in numerous national and international sailing regattas. With a
strong commitment to community, Carter began a successful yearly
donation drive for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Since
Gowrie Group began this fundraising initiative for the Soup Kitchen in
2004, the challenge has raised nearly $1,500,000, which equates to
providing over four million meals to those in need in the community.
Carter is also on the board of The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts
Center in Old Saybrook, CT.

Carter
earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Union College. He resides
in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. He enjoys singing, playing guitar, racing
sailboats, and spending time with his family and five children.

Joan Fung-Tomc & Richard Tomc

Joan
Fung-Tomc graduated from UCLA and earned a Ph.D. from the University of
Connecticut. She began her career as Chief of Microbiology at North
Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York and then joined
Bristol-Myers Squibb in Wallingford, Connecticut, where she worked for
31 years and participated in the discovery, development and registration
of seven antibacterial and antiviral drugs. Joan has been active in
various local non-profits, including the Friends of the Russell Library,
St. Colman Church, Middletown Board of Health, and science education
out-reach in the Meriden Public Schools. She serves on the Board of
Trustees of Mercy High School and volunteers as a Medicare counselor
with the Connecticut Agency on Aging.

Rich
Tomc is a graduate of John Carroll University, Harvard Law School and
Wesleyan University. After law school and military service, he joined
the corporate law department of IBM Corporation in New York and later
the Hartford law firm of Ribicoff & Kotkin. Rich relocated to
Middletown in 1978 and formed a law firm where he practiced for over 31
years, and more recently joined the Middletown office of Updike, Kelly
& Spellacy. He has served as Middletown Corporation Counsel and Town
Attorney for Cromwell and East Hampton. Rich is a Liberty Bank Director
and is active in various community organizations including the
Community Foundation, Middlesex Hospital, Middletown Rotary Club,
Northern Middlesex YMCA, Russell Library, Long Hill Estate Authority and
St. Colman Church.

Joan
and Rich live in Middletown. They have two daughters: Jamie Dalton is a
credit analyst and lives in New York City with her husband, Rob, and
Dana Dougherty serves with her husband, Brennan, as Coast Guard officers
at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Authors of comments and posts are solely responsible for their statements. Please email MiddletownInsider@gmail.com for questions or concerns. This blog, (and any site using the blogger platform), does not and cannot track the source of comments. While opinions and criticism are fine, they are subject to moderator discretion; slander and vile attacks of individuals will not to be tolerated. Middletown Insider retains the right to deny any post or comment without explanation.